I agree with you. Good point.

Jeff ~ I think authenticity is the best way to relate to anyone. The generic or robotic voices I've heard on other agents voicemail, often makes me wonder if they are actually the one getting the message.

It bugs me to hear the default message that only states the number you've dialed.  And please leave your kids and pets off of your business line - that's my other pet peeve.

I hear both but always do my own. I have a friend who is a broker with a larger team and his recording is left by his assistant with a great british accent that sounds very professional and fits his Beverly Hills market. It's a personal choice.

It drives me crazy Jeff..i never know if i have the right number...learn to use your phone i say...Happy Easter!

I agree.  They are missing out big time.  I'm sure it hurts their credibility and ability to cnnect, and hence fewer clients.  And, I bet they don't even realize.

It's a pet peeve shared by most of us...a personal (authentic) voice is an essential, and always say who the recipient of your call is!

Jeff, sometimes I have to ask if they've really listened to their VM announcement.  I like them to be as concise as possible.  A redo is in order according to the comments here! 

I don't like the sound of my voice on voicemail, but after much chiding I finally did it.  Besides, the generic voicemails end up with a message like I'm leaving this message for so and so because they don't really know if it's you or not.

Jeff- yep... I prefer the real thing and another pet peeve... "I'll call you back at my earliest convenience."

And to take the voice mail to the next level: if you are saying in your voice "please leave me a message", then turn off the automatic computer lady that tells me "please leave a message after the tone or press 1 to leave a message or whatever ...". I like a personal, upbeat greeting without computer instructions that I don't have to listen 30 min. before I can start recording!

When you call me that's my voice on the other line.  @ Tanya I also get annoyed by the long auto message....make it sweet and simple. 

Or what about the people who do not record anything? Talk about a missed opportunity.

Jeff - I prefer personalized voice messages.   Of course, mine is extra long, so what can I say?

I record my own voice and love hearing other agents voice recordings because it tells A LOT about them!

I agree -but I better check my own voicemail since I can't remember doing it :)

While we're venting - what about the agent that just answsers "Hello."  If my husband has to answer my cell because I can't, then "Hello" is okay.  But if you are an agent and don't answer with your name, that bugs me.

Jeff,  I record my own messages and I answer my phones.  I think you nailed the many reasons why some agents don't. It strikes me as odd as well.  Can you image calling a doctor's office, accountant's office, or dental office with their phones being answered in such a manner? I think I would hang up and call another "professional" that has a handle on phone etiquette! If that's the first impression I would not want to be in a transaction with that agent!

It doesn't bother me at all that people don't record their own voice messages. The only thing that does bother me is that they don't identify themselves so that I know that I've got the right person and the right number.

One should their own voice message.... Once I got one that said something like this....   My mommy can't get to the phone right now.... But if you leave her a message she will call you back later.

I do not know the exact reason why people do not record their own voicemails, perhaps they want to make others know that they have secretary, assistants or receptionist to answer their phone for them? I think it may work better if one record their own voice mail to be more personable.

Before Don Lafontaine (the movie announcer guy) passed away, he used to do voicemail messages for people in his spare time.

As long as the name of the person is in the message so I know if I got a wrong number or not is there, I really don't care who recorded it. 

I've never thought about having someone else record my message.  The thing I hate the most though is when the message does not identify who I've reached....I like to make sure I have not dialed the wrong number.

I haven't come across much of this myself. Mel and I have always recorded our own messages and always intent to. I guess I wouldn't especially mind if someone else hasn't recorded their own, as long as they identify who I have reached.

Gretchen

I have a client who managed to erase his automated message and for the life of himself he couldn't record a voice mail message at all. Here in Sacramento it is customary for buyer's agents to call the seller directly to either make an appointment or let the seller know when they plan to show. Agents weren't leaving messages for this seller because they didn't know if they had actually reached his voice mail. I had to insert a message into MLS that let agents know there was no message on v/m and to wait for the beep before they began talking.

But I'm with you. Agents should record a personal message. We are in the people business.

I agree, Agents should record their own personal voicemails. I dislike calling and not knowing if I called the right number becasue the name of the person is never said. I also cannot stand when there is just a beep, not even the number can be verified. 

Lori - I suspect a few others do too.

Jon - well it does make you wonder. And I think somepeople do, unfortunately, come away from a voice mail with a negative impression.

Ron - well I haven't heard those from any agents but some other voice mail recordings can be kinda obnoxious, IMO

Ginny - agreed. I always ask who the person is to make sure. Hope you had a wonderful Easter and didn't overindulge on chocolate (if that's even possible).

Jeff

Jeff - I'm still trying to get people to comment on other's posts for me, let alone record a message for me on my own voice mail ;)

Hi Jeff - I have always recorded my own voicemail.  It is very effective.

David - I can see how that might be pretty effective.

Debbie - it is certainly a good possibility. Why run the risk?

Li - it certainly feels more authentic to me.

Kevin - I doubt some ever listen to their recording...but should.

Morris - I suspect there are others who feel the same about their voices. But it's you so why not be real on the phone?

Jeff

Jeff, lazy is putting it mildly.  It leaves you wondering, if they can't take the time to record a message, what else don't they have time for?

Jeff, 

Makes no sense to me either.  I use one phone - if you want to reach me, it's the only place to call and leave a message.  I try to answer, but if I cannot, I try to return the call/message quickly. 

All the best, Michelle

Jeff -- I'm with you on this one.  I want my clients to know I care about them, their call is important ... and I want them to hear that from me!

Kathy - well at least if they DON'T call back. I love when you hear "you call is very important..." or "I'll return calls between..." and it doesn't happen.

Tanja - amen!

Jef

Jeff, no!  They won Carl Kassel's voice on their answering machine on the weekly news quiz, "Wait!  Wait!  Don't Tell Me!"

Paula - yep those LONG messages get tedious

Melissa - those certainly are helpful, aren't they?

Christine - Can't say I've heard it. LOL  Hopefully not TOO long.

LaNita - I agree - you do gain a first impression from someone voice mail.

Jeff

The robot with "please leave a message" makes me wonder if I mis dialed.

Hey Jeff,

I do like to record my own voicemail greetings, and I have received compliments about the greeting for my brokerage.  All part of the branding.  Best of success to you this year!

How can we expect to deliver personalized service to our clients, if we can't even take the time to personalize our voice message greeting?

Kind of like the agent that can't keep a single active working phone number.

Good post, thanks for sharing it.

Actually I always wanted my voicemail greeting- and my GPS- to sound exactly like Paul Lynde. 

Hi Jeff--if there was one place I would want to hear a personal message it would be on the voice mail of a Realtor.  Otherwise, I might think they were too busy to attend to me if they delegate recording voice mail messages to someone else. 

It makes no difference to me whether they have their own voice or someone else's whether it is their personal telephone or business one. I just would like people to return phone calls.

First impressions are important and if you're calling a male agent and a female "answers" on vm, then you're already off on the wrong foot. I think recording your own message is extremely important. As Paula said keep it short and simple, and also try to have a smile in your voice...you wouldn't approach someone in person who looked mad, angry, depressed, so make sure the caller's first phone call "approach" is greeted warmly thru your vm greeting/message.

I think I agree with Gita. .it doesn't matter if the voice of Caligula answered. . I just need a returned phone call soon.

I think it's funny that some of you are calling it lazy.  My wife and I are a team, and I had her do the voicemail recording on both of our phones last year.  She has a much better speaking voice than I do.  I haven't had any complaints and certainly hadn't been called lazy...  until now.  That's okay though.  To each his own.  

Jeff, I agree with you.  Record your own greeting, unless you have a speech problem. Of course, any recording is better than the service provider's "computer lady" repeating the phone number and instructing to leave a message.

If I hear a default message, it makes me question whether I dialed the right number.  This is especially true when I'm multi-tasking, so I end up dialing the number again.   

Hi Jeff,

I agree with you too.  I think in our business we need to be more personal and our voice is important. 

For about the last month, I have been trying to get in the habit of recording a new message every morning.  I think it's an effective thing to do and it shows a diligence about being up to date and present.  It's also not the easiest hook to set.  Somedays I don't realize I've left yesterday's message until noon...

I can not imagine why a real estate agent would not record their own message. I do know some folks who hate messages and never set their up. They also do not listen to their messages. But hey, they are not using their cell phone for business. 

A professional voice is what matters to me...no cutesy stuff, no long messages and of course I want to be called back right away....Real Estate is $$$..make it fun, but keep it high class

I chalk it up to being either too lazy or too stupid to work their phone properly.  In either case, it lowers my expectations for interacting with that person.  I record my own message and keep it professional every time.

Jeff - In the real estate business (as you mentioned), we ARE our own brand, so it has always struck me as odd when I reach a voice mail that is either generic or recorded by someone else. I don't get it. 

It takes so little time and you can do it over and over until you get it right. It makes me feel like someone doesn't care enough about their calls if their voice is not the greeting.

Hi Jeff, don't understand it. I try to say my name first off in the message, so that if it is a wroing number, they know it right away.

Jeff,

My feeling is the sooner clients can get familiar and comfortable with my voice, the better.

Great post!

Thanks!

Maybe they can't figure out how to work their phone? I record my own voicemail and appreciate it when I call another agent if they say who they are so that I'm sure I have the right number.

I guess we all have different ideas on how to run our business.  I have always used my voice on my cell phone.  For my company business phone I have used different types of messages.  I need to revisit this again. 

I love the Looonnnnngggg message that ends with "Next time, push the # key to bypass this message" Like next time I'm going to remember what button to push to by pass your way too long message

Hi Jeff,

Great point and something I was just thinking about the other day. I use "YouMail", which is a free service. I never recorded my own message because YouMail has a personalized outgoing message which says, "Hello (callers name according to caller ID) Gina is not available right now, please leave a message." However, I was recently considering changing it and recording my own message and you just gave me the kick in the butt that I needed ; )

Hope you had a great Easter & enjoyed our awesome So Cal weather,

Gina 

Jeff, I think they think they are too important to leave their own voice mail message. What's even worse than than is their assistant isn't answering the phone either.

I record my own and prefer it that way.  I to update it also.

I don't really even think about it when I hear one of those, I just leave a VM and if I don't hear back I just call again.  But now thanks to this post it will pop into my head everytime!

Jeff, I think you hit a point where a lot of people don't like the sound of their voice. Many people are surprised at what their voice sounds like when they record it.

I find that often it's because of a heavy accent. Perhaps they fear prejudice, or maybe just want it to be clear?

Margaret - it bugs me, too. It just dseems more professional to answer your business line with your name. Maybe becuase so many use their cell for personal calls? IDK

Kathleen - no real reason FOR it to be any different than another professional businessperson.

Charita - I certainly agree on your second point. For some reason I am bothered by VMs recorded by someone one, perhaps becuase it is so unusual.

Roland - yeah, I have had similar ones. Guess they thinks it's cute. Aat home, perhaps, but not sure for the business line/cell.

Jeff

I agree with you Jeff.  It should be personalized but business like.  No kids, pets, music etc.   And check it once in a while and don't let your mail box fill up!!  Good post.

I used to work at a commercial company in a corporate setting. They insisted that my secretary record my message. I hated it. They had several impersonal policies, but that was the culture of corporate commercial. I think some think it sounds more professional.

I think of my voicemail as a marketing tool so to be professional is just a no brainer.  Raise the bar.

I've had to experience an agent's VM that had her dog barking in the background.  I have to say my immediate reaction was jealousy, that she nonchalantly recorded her message once and never bothered to check it - while I spend 30 min deleting and recording till I get it right.  I think that dog would get on my nerves if I had to call her more than once.

The ones that amaze me are the ones that don't have a voice mail at all, just a "You've called 503-###-####, please leave your message"